Behavioral Therapy Specialist in Asheville NC and Peachtree Corners GA

Behavioral therapy focuses on human behavior to help individuals eliminate harmful or maladaptive behavior from their lives.

Behavioral therapy is based on the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is built on the idea that thoughts (or cognitions) and behaviors form a two-way relationship with both influencing each other.

Behavioral therapy is used to treat a broad range of mental health disorders, substance use disorders (SUDs), and behavioral issues, including any of the following:

• Addiction and substance abuse
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria), panic disorder, or social anxiety disorder
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Borderline personality disorder
• Conduct disorder
• Eating disorders
• Mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Psychotic disorders, such as schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, or substance-induced psychosis
• Various phobias

There are several different behavioral therapy types and techniques, the uses of which vary according to the condition being treated, the patient’s age, the severity of the patient’s symptoms, and the effectiveness or lack thereof from any past treatments. As such, some of the different types of behavioral therapy include the following:

• Applied behavioral analysis, which uses operant conditioning techniques to direct and modify problematic behaviors
• Cognitive-behavioral play therapy, which utilizes play to evaluate, prevent, or treat psychosocial disorders, particularly in children
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), which aims to help individuals manage emotions, cope with distress, and improve interpersonal relationships
• Exposure therapy, which utilizes behavioral therapy methods to help people overcome fears of certain objects or situations, using techniques that expose individuals to the source of their fear while employing relaxation strategies
• Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), which aims to identify and challenge negative or destructive thoughts or feelings and replace them with more rational and realistic thoughts and feelings

Some different behavioral therapy techniques include classical conditioning or operant conditioning. With classical conditioning, behavioral therapy aims to help patients form associations between various stimuli, such as those between neutral or undesirable stimuli and emotionally charged stimuli. Operant conditioning focuses on how reinforcement and punishment can be harnessed to increase or decrease the frequency of certain behaviors.

Behavioral therapy can provide numerous benefits to individuals dealing with any illness, including in the treatment of substance abuse or addiction. Below are some benefits:

• Creating a shared and proactive therapeutic relationship with the behavioral therapist
• Improving symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental illness
• Changing thought patterns to be more positive, proactive, and assertive
• Helping to improve communication and social skills
• Structured, goal-oriented, and problem-focused therapeutic sessions
• Teaching each patient strategies and skills for behavioral and cognitive improvement

For more information about behavioral therapy or an appointment with us at the Ascension Solutions Treatment Center, please call or schedule an appointment through our website! We serve patients from Peachtree Corners GA, Asheville NC, Swannanoa NC, Johns Creek GA, Woodfin NC, Biltmore Forest NC, Fairview NC, Roswell GA, Dunwoody GA, Pittsburg GA, Western North Carolina and the surrounding areas.